Formula 1 pundits are calling Daniel Ricciardo's signing with McLaren a "sideways shift". They would have you believe he's chosen another middle-pack team after struggling to find traction with a team (Renault) on the same trajectory. However, there is a case to be made the Australian's move to McLaren could the next best thing to putting him in the seat of a Mercedes alongside six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. McLaren is, after all, a customer team - they don't make their own engines and starting in the 2021 season will be sourcing their power units from Mercedes - putting Ricciardo on level ground with the most dominant team in the last half-decade of the sport. If the McLaren engineers can build a strong platform, Riccardo can put his ability to the test in a near like-for-like scenario with the current leaders. He had been tipped to pursue the vacant seat at Ferrari after the news Sebastian Vettel would depart the team at the end of this season. But a major factor not to chase the prancing pony could be Ricciardo's desire to be the prominent driver in a team and not be stuck playing second fiddle. His signing with Renault at the end of 2018 left Red Bull team boss Christian Horner red-faced and dumbfounded - he would have sworn black and blue the Perth product was happy and staying with the team. But it was there, quietly bubbling under the surface that Max Verstappen had ascended to prominence at Red Bull and Ricciardo felt like he had taken a back seat to his younger counterpart. Ricciardo said at the time he had wanted to make the move to a team like Renault and be the driver who helped them run down the front row starts and the points for the championship. And the pundits can't all be trusted. When Hamilton made the move to Mercedes in 2013, it brought on a reaction of shock with many then calling it a gamble. This move now could be a gamble but there is a sense that for Ricciardo he is hungry for the same shot at taking a team to the top as Hamilton delivered seven years ago. McLaren had already tried to court Ricciardo's interest in 2018, proving they see value in him as a driver and the move to the British team also ensures he will be the lead man for the team ahead of young gun Lando Norris. So while the experts say its sideways, Ricciardo and McLaren are definitely both looking up about the signing.

They would have you believe he's chosen another middle-pack team after struggling to find traction with a team (Renault) on the same trajectory.

However, there is a case to be made the Australian's move to McLaren could the next best thing to putting him in the seat of a Mercedes alongside six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

McLaren is, after all, a customer team - they don't make their own engines and starting in the 2021 season will be sourcing their power units from Mercedes - putting Ricciardo on level ground with the most dominant team in the last half-decade of the sport.

If the McLaren engineers can build a strong platform, Riccardo can put his ability to the test in a near like-for-like scenario with the current leaders.

He had been tipped to pursue the vacant seat at Ferrari after the news Sebastian Vettel would depart the team at the end of this season.

But a major factor not to chase the prancing pony could be Ricciardo's desire to be the prominent driver in a team and not be stuck playing second fiddle.

His signing with Renault at the end of 2018 left Red Bull team boss Christian Horner red-faced and dumbfounded - he would have sworn black and blue the Perth product was happy and staying with the team.

But it was there, quietly bubbling under the surface that Max Verstappen had ascended to prominence at Red Bull and Ricciardo felt like he had taken a back seat to his younger counterpart.

Ricciardo said at the time he had wanted to make the move to a team like Renault and be the driver who helped them run down the front row starts and the points for the championship.

And the pundits can't all be trusted.

When Hamilton made the move to Mercedes in 2013, it brought on a reaction of shock with many then calling it a gamble.

This move now could be a gamble but there is a sense that for Ricciardo he is hungry for the same shot at taking a team to the top as Hamilton delivered seven years ago.

McLaren had already tried to court Ricciardo's interest in 2018, proving they see value in him as a driver and the move to the British team also ensures he will be the lead man for the team ahead of young gun Lando Norris.

So while the experts say its sideways, Ricciardo and McLaren are definitely both looking up about the signing.